Vt. US Rep. Welch talks Congress priorities

State's lone rep doubts Congress will agree

Vermont's lone member of the U.S. House says he doubts Congress will agree to avert the so-called fiscal cliff before the end of the year.

Democratic Congressman Peter Welch says little progress was made on budget issues before the election, and he doubts a breakthrough will come in the last two months of the year.

But Welch told reporters on Monday that the result may actually be favorable to the Democratic position that Bush-era tax cuts should remain in place only for households making up to $250,000.

Under current law, all the tax cuts expire for all income levels on Jan. 1. Welch says Republicans would then be asked to cut taxes for low- and moderate-income Americans, leaving somewhat higher, Clinton-era tax rates in place for higher earners.

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